Receptacle



w. A. DlO N RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 51, 1956 Aug. 24, 1937.

Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE William A. Dion,

Attleboro, Mass,

a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 31, 1936, Serial No. 108,657

14 Claims. (01. 220-55) The invention is particularly applicable tocigarette cases, compacts and other devices for personal use although it is not confined to such purposes.

In general the structure comprises a receptacle having a top, bottom, ends and sides. .The top may have a depending front side and the bottom may have an upstanding front side. These .two front side members together may form the front side of the receptacle. They may be locked in closed position by a member which is in one front side and held in position by the end members and provided with means engaging the other front side. The latching member preferably will extend both above and below the line. of engagement between the'front side members. This arrangement may form an effective seal for the joint between the parts of the front side and may tend to reinforce the front side members. Means carried by the latching member preferably will project forward through apertures in one or the other or both of the front members but preferably the aperture or apertures will be backed and closed or, reinforced by underlying portions of the latching member. The latching member preferably will be made of resilient material and preferably will .be. so constructed, formed and arranged that its resiliency normally holds the catch engaged to hold the top member closed.

Preferably the latching member will. be de formed as it is installed in the receptacle so that in its final position it tends to press vigorously against the front members.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of receptacle made in accordance with the present invention, a portion of one end member being shown slightly withdrawn to disclose the underlying structure, the receptacle being shown open. Fig. .2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the receptacle being shown closed. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 the receptacle being shown closed. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one end of the receptacle and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latching member before installation in the receptacle.

The receptacle may consist of a top member l0 provided with a depending rear side member II and also with a depending front side member l2. There may be a bottom member 3 provided with an upstanding rear side. member l4 and an upstanding front side member l5. The end members illustrated consist of members having inwardly pressed portions l6 and overhanging marginal edges l1 associated with outwardly extending flanges l8. The bottom member l3 and its rear and front side members l4 and 5 may rest against the edges of the member l5 and abut against the member I! of both ends and may be fastened thereto by soldering, welding, or in any other suitable manner. The rear and forward side members l4 and I5 preferably ex tend upward approximately half the height of the receptacle. The rear side member I4 is connected to the rear side member II by a hinge l9 which may be spring controlled in any usual manner and is illustrated as extending the entire width of the receptacle. The arrangement is preferably such that when in closed position the member l4 lies in substantially the same plane with the member II and the combined heights of the members II and I4 is substantially the height of the receptacle, so that in closed position the top I ll will rest upon the top edges of the portions l6 of the end members of the receptacle. In this position the lower edge of the front side member |2 will preferably rest upon the upper edge of the front side member 5. The side members l2 and I5 rest against the front ends of the inset portions 6 of the end members while the members H and I4 rest against the rear ends of the portions l6 of the end members.

The latching member 20, made preferably of resilient or spring metal, may be slightly bowed as illustrated in Fig. 5. The member 20 is the length of the width of the receptacle and at its ends is provided with lugs 2| and 22 to engage the end members of the receptacle. At about its middle, or at the crest of the bow, is provided a projecting thumb piece 23. Adjacent this is a catching or latching aperture 24. In the front side member l5'is provided an aperture 25 to receive the thumb piece 23. When the members of the receptacle are fastened together the spring catch member 20 may be installed in place. This is done by inserting the lug 22 into an aperture provided therefore at the front of the portion N5 of one of the end members. A portion of the face of the member 20 thus lies against the inner face of the member I5 and the member 20 is flexed to bring the thumb piece 23 into and projectingthrough the'a-perture '25. The portion I6 of the other end member is provided with an aperture 26 to receive the lug 2| on the opposite end of the member 20 and in order to allow the lug 2| to be forced into its seat a small portion of the end member l6 adjacent the aperture 26 is slotted at 21 forming a tongue 28. It is obvious that as the member 20 is brought into con- :tact-with the front member 5 and the lug 2| presses against it the tongue 28 may give and be slightly displaced so as to allow the lug 2| to pass beyond the end of the tongue 28 and into its seat in the aperture 26. The tongue 28 will then usually return to its normal position in the plane of the portion l6 of the end member and rest against the lug 2| to hold it and the member 20 in position. If this does not occur the tongue 28 may be forced back into the plane of the portion IE to hold the lug 2|. In this position the member 211 will be held snugly against the member l throughout its entire length and in such position it will be in condition so that if it is displaced from close contact with the member l5 it will tend to return to contact therewith.

The member extends somewhat above the upper edge of the member I5 as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. Adjacent the aperture and surrounding it the member 20 may be provided with an upwardly extending portion 29 which may extend upwardly so as to be nearly in contact with thefltop l0 when the receptacle is closed. The thumb piece 23 in the aperture may extend somewhat above the top of the member l5 and in order to accommodate it the depending member |2 may be provided with a corresponding aperture so that when the receptacle is closed the lower edge of the member |2 may engage the upper edge of the member IS without interference by the thumb piece 23. At the upper edge of the aperture 30 the member l2 may carry an inwardly extending projection 3| which when the receptacle is closed may be engaged by the aperture 24 in the member 20 thus holding the receptacle closed. In the closed position of the receptacle pressure on the thumb piece 23 may force the aperture 24 off the projection 3| and allow the top member l0 to rise. The hinge l9 may be a spring hinge to lift the top member In or the top member ID may be lifted by hand or in any other suitable way.

The projecting portion 29 above the latching aperture 24 may be provided with an inclined, curved or bevelled edge so that as the top member ill is closed the catch 3| may ride thereupon and force the member 20 backward so as to allow the projection 3| to enter the aperture 24 and be locked therein. A similar effect may be procured by curving, inclining or bevelling the inside of the projection 3| or both the cooperating members may be so treated.

To conceal the lugs 2| and 22 and the aperture 26 and tongue 28 at the end pieces any suitable means may be provided if desired. Flanges l8 are illustrated on the end members. The flanges l8 may be bent in slightly so that ornamental members 32 corresponding in shape to the opening between the flanges l8 may be attached by sliding between the flanges l8 Where they may be fastened in any suitable manner.

It will be noted that the latching member 20 extends from end to end of the receptacle and throughout its entire length underlies both front side members I2 and I5 overlapping the joint between them and tending to hold the edges smooth and form a tight closure for the receptacle. The member 20 may make close contact throughout its entire length with the bottom l3. The lugs 2| and 22 may be so placed, or other means may be adopted, to hold the member 20 throughout all or part of its length from close contact with the bottom l3 so that if any foreign mattershould get between the member 20 and the member l5 it will not lodge therein but may pass out by the bottom thus leaving the member 20 continuously free to assume its position in close contact with the front members l5 and I2.

The invention is not confined to the specific structures illustrated but may be embodied in other forms.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a receptacle, end walls, a bottom front wall, a top front wall separable from the bottom front wall, an inwardly extending projection on the top front wall, a spring provided with an aperture engaging the projection when the receptacle is closed, the spring being mounted in the end walls so as normally to be close to the bottom front wall and extending above the top edge of the bottom front wall, and means to manipulate the spring to release the projection.

2. In a receptacle, end walls, a bottom front wall, a top front wall separable from the bottom front wall, a projection on the top front wall, a spring releasably engaging the projection when the receptacle is closed, the spring being mounted in the end walls so as normally to be close to the bottom front wall and extending above the top edge of the bottom front wall throughout the length of the front wall, and means tomanipulate the spring to release the projection.

3. In a receptacle, end walls, a bottom front wall, a top front wall separable from the bottom front wall, a spring releasably engaging the top front wall when the receptacle is closed, the spring being mounted in the end walls so as normally to be close to the bottom front wall and extending above the top edge of the bottom front wall throughout the length of the front wall, and means to manipulate the spring to release the projection.

4. In a receptacle, end walls, a separable top, a front wall carried by the top, a bottom, a front wall carried by the bottom invertical alignment with the top front wall, a spring member pressed against one front wall and extending beyond its free edge throughout the entire length of the said front wall, and means carried by the other front wall to engage the spring.

5. In a receptacle, end walls, a separable top, a front wall carried by the top, a bottom, a front wall carried by the bottom, a member resiliently pressed against one front wall and extending beyond its free edge throughout the entire length of the said front wall, and means carried by the other front wall to engage the spring.

6. In a receptacle, end walls, a bottom front wall, a top front wall separable from the bottom front wall, a spring releasably engaging the top front wall when the receptacle is closed, the spring being mounted so as normally to be close to the bottom front wall and extending above the top edge of the bottom front wall throughout its length, and means to manipulate the spring to release the projection.

'7. In a receptacle, end walls, a separable top, a front wall carried by the top, a bottom, a front wall carried by the bottom, a spring member in contact with the bottom front wall and overlapping the joint between the top front wall and the bottom front wall throughout the entire length of the front wall, and releasable means carried by the front wall to engage the spring.

8; A receptacle comprising a leaf spring resting against the front wall, a side member having a seat for the spring, and a tongue adjacent the seat adapted to 'move to allow the spring to enter the seat and to return to hold the spring in its seat.

9. A receptacle comprising a front wall and side walls, a spring member having an inherent tendency to assume an arcuate shape, seats in the side walls for the ends of the spring adapted to hold the center of the spring against the front wall.

10. A receptacle comprising a front wall and side walls, a spring member having an inherent tendency to assume an arcuate shape, seats in the side walls for the ends of the spring adapted to hold the spring against the front wall throughout its length.

11. A receptacle comprising a front Wall and side walls, a spring member having an inherent tendency to assume an arcuate shape, seats in the side walls for the ends of the spring and tongues adjacent the seats which may move to allow the spring ends to move to or from the seats.

12. A receptacle comprising a front wall and side walls, a spring member having an inherent tendency to assume an arcuate shape, a seat in one side wall for an end of the spring, and a movable member acting as a keeper for the spring in the seat.

13. A receptacle comprising a leaf spring resting against the front wall, a side member having a seat for the spring, and a tongue adjacent the seat which may move to allow the spring to enter the seat.

14. A receptacle comprising a leaf spring resting against the front wall, a side member having a seat for the spring, slots extending from the seat forming between them a movable member acting as a keeper for the spring in the seat.

WILLIAM A. DION. 

